Ex-Stafford chief nurse struck off

A former chief nurse at scandal-hit Stafford Hospital has consented to being struck off for exposing patients to danger during her time at the hospital.

Janice Harry agreed to the move after the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care launched a challenge to a tribunal's decision only to issue her with a caution.

The authority announced today that, following its intervention, Ms Harry had signed a consent order "and cannot again work as a nurse".

A disciplinary tribunal of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) conduct and competence committee found Ms Harry put patients in danger by not ensuring there was adequate staffing on wards.

But it decided she was still fit to practise and only gave her a five-year caution order.

The Professional Standards Authority (PSA) was due to appeal to the High Court in London tomorrow and argue the NMC decision was "unduly lenient" as Ms Harry had endangered patients and showed no insight into her failings.

But today the PSA announced the NMC now agreed the decision was unduly lenient, and this week Ms Harry had agreed to be removed from the NMC's register.

Harry Cayton, chief executive of the PSA, said: 'This is the right outcome.

"Senior clinicians should be held to account when there are serious failings in patient care for which they are responsible.

"The Authority will continue to appeal the regulators' fitness to practise decisions when it considers they are unduly lenient".

The striking off was confirmed by Jackie Smith, chief executive and registrar of the NMC.

Ms Smith said: " "We are pleased to confirm a legal agreement has been reached between the NMC, Professional Standards Authority (PSA) and Janice Harry, which will lead to her being struck off the nursing register.

Share article

"We had previously raised concerns about the sanction imposed by an independent panel in November 2013, and took immediate steps to refer it to the PSA for review.

"The case raised important issues about the responsibility of nurses who hold senior management positions and their duty to ensure the protection of the public."

Ipsoregulated

This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standardards Organisations's Editors' Code of Practice. If you have a compaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here